The World's Only Corn Palace is the main tourist attraction in Mitchell, South Dakota. Around 500,000 tourists from around the United States come to visit the uniquely designed Corn Palace and the murals on it.
While being a predominately agricultural state, South Dakota responded with construction of the World's Only Corn Palace in 1892. At the time Mitchell was a very young city with only 3,000 citizens.
In 1905, the success of the Corn Palace grew and the building soon became too small.The decision to build a third Corn Palace was made in 1919. This new building would be more purposeful, and it was completed in 1921.
The current building was finished with construction in 1921, and proved useful from the start while holding South Dakota's Boy's State basketball tournament that winter.
Steps were taken in 1930 to recapture the artistic designs of the building and all of its features. Kiosks and minarets of Moorish designs were added.
Today, the Corn Palace is used for more than just a festival or as a tourist attraction. You will find anything from industrial exhibits or meetings to stage shows or dances there. It is also where you will find Dakota Wesleyan University and Mitchell High School graduation ceremonies. But, it doesn't stop there! USA Today named the Corn Palace one of the top 10 places in America for high school basketball.
The World's Only Corn Palace is redecorated each year with corn that is colored naturally and other grains and grasses. The corn, grains, and grasses are used to represent "the agricultural showplace of the world." There are thirteen different colors and shades or corn used to decorate the Corn Palace: black, blue, calico, yellow, green, orange, red, white, and brown. A different theme is chosen each year, and the murals are designed to reflect on the chosen theme. The current panel designer is Cherie Ramsdell. The corn is nailed to the Corn Palace ear by ear, and the decorating process usually starts in late May with the removal the dock and rye. The corn murals are stripped at the end of August and the new ones are completed by October.
While being a predominately agricultural state, South Dakota responded with construction of the World's Only Corn Palace in 1892. At the time Mitchell was a very young city with only 3,000 citizens.
In 1905, the success of the Corn Palace grew and the building soon became too small.The decision to build a third Corn Palace was made in 1919. This new building would be more purposeful, and it was completed in 1921.
The current building was finished with construction in 1921, and proved useful from the start while holding South Dakota's Boy's State basketball tournament that winter.
Steps were taken in 1930 to recapture the artistic designs of the building and all of its features. Kiosks and minarets of Moorish designs were added.
Today, the Corn Palace is used for more than just a festival or as a tourist attraction. You will find anything from industrial exhibits or meetings to stage shows or dances there. It is also where you will find Dakota Wesleyan University and Mitchell High School graduation ceremonies. But, it doesn't stop there! USA Today named the Corn Palace one of the top 10 places in America for high school basketball.
The World's Only Corn Palace is redecorated each year with corn that is colored naturally and other grains and grasses. The corn, grains, and grasses are used to represent "the agricultural showplace of the world." There are thirteen different colors and shades or corn used to decorate the Corn Palace: black, blue, calico, yellow, green, orange, red, white, and brown. A different theme is chosen each year, and the murals are designed to reflect on the chosen theme. The current panel designer is Cherie Ramsdell. The corn is nailed to the Corn Palace ear by ear, and the decorating process usually starts in late May with the removal the dock and rye. The corn murals are stripped at the end of August and the new ones are completed by October.